Brits repeat High Sierra hardest

18th July, 2005

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Nic Sellers and Tom Briggs have repeated Peter Croft's Airstream on the Incredible Hulk, High Sierra, California. This is believed to be the 2nd ascent of the route. Croft put up Airstream in July 2004 with Dave Nettle and graded the crux pitch 5.13, feeling that it was most likely the hardest climb in the backcountry. After familiarising themselves with the 1500' Hulk with a quick ascent of the classic Positive Vibrations (V 5.11a), Sellers and Briggs set off on Airstream a few days later. The meat of the 11-pitch route involves two pitches of 5.12c and the 5.13a crux corner. Briggs on-sighted both 5.12c pitches, whilst Sellers quickly redpointed the super-thin 5.13a stemming and face pitch. They completed the route in 12 hours.